Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers remind visitors that graffiti not only detracts from the natural beauty of the park, but can also permanently damage irreplaceable resources. Park resources including one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States, backcountry hiking shelters, live trees, stone walls, bridges, and tunnels have all suffered from a range of small markings with ball point pens to elaborate markings with permanent marker to lewd and offensive spray paint messages that leave the park in worse condition.
Park rangers and volunteers educate visitors about the lasting implications of defacing the park’s natural and cultural resources through education programs, signs, and a graffiti-removal program. Unfortunately, graffiti can seldom be removed from log structures without destroying historic wood which makes removal virtually impossible. “Bob Was Here” signs were installed at a variety of locations within the park to help deter the park’s 10 million visitors from leaving permanent marks on structures and long trails that damage park resources.
“The staff at Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains committed to preventing and removing where possible graffiti in the park,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “The National Park Service, our neighbors and visitors, have an equal responsibility to ensure that this park is preserved unimpaired for the next generation.”
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I am Jeff Clark, founder of Internet Brothers, producer of this blog, and passionate about hiking. I live in Western NC near the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are just out my door, so the content will focus on these areas, but let me know what you would like to see on the site. 
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